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I'm training for my very first Triathlon. I meet up with 12 other women 2x per week at 5:30am and we run/jog/walk around a local mall parking lot. Yeah, I know -- crazy right? But that's not the main point of my review. I just needed to let you know that fact before I start.

So, based on the tweets and comments from the lovely @MsAnnAguirre I picked up the first book in Alexis Morgan's Paladin's of Darkness Series. There are seven published books in this series and I jumped into the conversation while she was discussing the upcoming May 31st release of book 8. She talked up the characters, the world building and Morgan's writing skills so much, I kind of HAD to do the 1-Click. Really, I did.

So on my first day of Triathlon training, (see the tie-in?) I put on my ear buds, turned Chessiebomb on for TTS and let Alexis Morgan take me away as I listened to Dark Protector, Paladins of Darkness #1 and walked/slogged around the mall parking lot for 3.5 miles. That was on May 3rd.

Today is May 21st and I'm on Book 5! I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!

There's action, and super-alpha-males with swords and guns and heroines that don't take lip from anyone and will kick-azz and take names without ever lifting a weapon. @MsAnnAguirre was DEAD ON! Alexis Morgan has created a world that doesn't require explanation - or set up. It. Just. Is. Readers are fed bits and pieces of world building but Morgan treats them as just that. Bits and Pieces. No info dumps here folks.

Now that I've gushed about my love of Alexis Morgan, here's my review of her first book.

Title: Dark Protector

Series: Paladins of Darkness #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Author: Alexis Morgan

Pub: June 27th 2006 by Pocket

Devlin Bane: Born a Paladin, he is a member of an ancient band of warriors locked in a centuries-old war against evil.

His destiny: To die over and over again to protect mankind from the Others, only to be revived each time by his mortal Handler.

But his fierce strength and courage cannot save him from gradually becoming one of the monsters he was born to destroy.

Dr. Laurel Young, who has spent years training to become a Handler, must remain detached from her patients. But each time she revives the darkly compelling Devlin Bane, he claims a little more of her soul and incites in her desires that grow wilder and wilder — even as he inches closer to losing his humanity. As the war against the Others grows more desperate, Laurel and Devlin can't help but give in to the fierce hunger that's sizzled between them for so long. Now they'll face the ultimate battle together — to save a dark, passionate love that goes against every rule as they join forces to fight an enemy who is closer than they ever imagined....

Review Quickie:

Dark Protector introduces readers to the life of a Paladin. You fight. You die. You come back. A Paladin's sole purpose is to defend areas that have been identified as portals to another world where human-like beings known only as Others break try to break through. Every Paladin has a medical Handler. Someone who monitors their health and looks out for the telltale triggers of Paladin madness. Each life they lose brings them closer to the end.

Devlin and Laurel are not supposed to be together. Paladin's must remain single, isolated. Their work doesn't lend itself to long term relationships. Handlers should NOT fall in love with their charges. Especially since one day they will have to put them down like rabid dogs. Add to the pot that it's against the rules of their organization, oh and someone tried to kill Devlin - as in permanently dead, you've got nice internal and external conflict between them that gets sizzling hot within the first few chapters.

If you're the type of reader that enjoys the world building process in paranormal romance - you may not like this book. Morgan gives you the world from the characters eyes. You either believe it or you don't. I think that turns off some readers but I find it refreshing and enjoyable.